That humans that she's lost months
of her life experience the needless
trauma and she deserves space,
privacy and time with her loved
ones to recover and heal from her
time being wrongfully detained.
Brittany is is an incomparable athlete,
A2 time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA.
She endured mistreatment and has showed
attitude and a show trial in Russia with
characteristic grit and incredible dignity.
She represents the best,
America's best about America.
It is across the board, everything about her,
she wrote to me back in July.
She didn't ask for special treatment,
even though we've been working on a
release from the day one she requested.
Simple quote please don't forget about
me and the other American detainees.
Please do all you can to bring us home.
We never forgot about Brittany.
We've not forgotten about Paul Whelan,
who's been unjustly detained
in Russia for years.
This was not a choice of
which American to bring home.
We brought home Trevor Reed when
we had a chance earlier this year.
Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons,
Russia is treating Paul's case
differently than Brittany's,
and while we have not yet succeeded
in securing Paul's release,
we are not giving up.
We will never give up,
but remain in close touch with Paul's family,
the will and family, and my thoughts
and prayers are with them today.
They have to have such mixed emotions today.
And we'll keep negotiating in
good faith for Paul's release.
I guarantee that. I say that to the family.
I guarantee you.
And I urge Russia to do the same to
ensure the Paul's health and you
and humane treatment maintained
until we are able to bring him home.
I don't want any American to
sit wrongfully detained.
And and one extra day if we
can bring that person home,
my administration has now brought home
dozens of Americans who were wrongfully
detained or held hostage abroad,
many of whom had been held
since before I took office.
And today we also remember the other
Americans that are being held hostage.
And wrongfully detained in Russia
or anywhere else in the world.
Reuniting this Americans with their
loved ones remains a priority,
a priority for my administration.
Every person in my administration
involved in this.
We're going to continue to work
to bring home every American who
continues to endure such an injustice.
We also want to prevent anymore
American families from suffering
this pain and separation,
and I strongly urge,
I strongly urge all Americans
to take precautions,
including reviewing the State
Department's travel advisories
before they travel overseas,
which now includes warnings about
the risk of being wrongfully
detained by a foreign government.
Make no mistake about it.
This work is not easy.
Negotiations are always difficult.
There are never any guarantees.
But it's my job as president.
He states to make the hard calls
and protect American citizens
everywhere in the world.
Anywhere in the world.
And I'm proud that today we
had made one more family whole again.
So welcome home, Brittany.
And now I'd like to invite
Charelle to say a few words.
Joel. Of course,
she's not excited at all about this.
Sharelle.
It's all yours, kiddo.
Congratulations
again. Thank you.
So over the last nine
months you all have been?
So Privy to one of the
darkest moments of my life.
And so today I'm just standing
here overwhelmed with emotions.
But the most important emotion that
I have right now is just sincere
gratitude for President Biden
and his entire administration.
He just mentioned this work is not easy,
and it has not been.
There's been so many hands involved.
And so I'd like to take a moment to
just specifically mention a few.
Vice President Harris?
Secretary Blinken, Jake Sullivan, just.
Geltzer from the National Security Council,
Roger Carson and Fletcher shown
from the hostage invoice office.
A special thank you to Governor
Richardson and Mickey,
the Mercury players,
the WB PA for your advocacy,
and also you guys may not know this,
but my family has been tremendously supported
by the Washington agency BG's agent.
Lindsey Collis has just been amazing for
me and my family throughout this process.
So today my family is whole.
But as you all are aware,
there's so many other families
who are not whole.
And so BG's not here to say this,
but I will gladly speak on her
behalf and say that BG and I will
remain committed to the work
of getting every American home,
including Paul,
whose family is in our hearts
today as we celebrate BGB and home,
we do understand that there are still
people out here who are enduring.
But I endured the last nine months of
missing tremendously their loved ones.
So thank you everybody for your support.
And today it's just a happy day
for me and my family.
So I'm going to smile right now.
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you all very much.